Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Keep On Keeping On

Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.


Galatians 6:9

“I want to see God’s transformation!” I wailed to a friend. Overcome with fatigue over issues beyond my control, I wanted to see God answer prayer—in a BIG way. “There is transformation happening, Valerie,” she said quietly. Stopped by her gentle reply I was forced to look more intently at the “transformations” that had and were taking place. My problem was that they weren’t splashy, brightly colored, in-your-face transformations. They didn’t have the “look” I wanted to see! Instead the transformations my friend was talking about were the more quiet variety. The kind that had a lasting, enduring quality to them—transformations of the soul.

This work of being a Jesus follower, Kingdom work, can leave us achy and tired. In fact, if we’re actively engaged in Kingdom work we will probably be more frequently plagued with feelings of exhaustion than not! Doesn’t sound very promising or enjoyable, does it? It’s hard to keep working and working, doing good, and not seeing the harvest.

The hard work of Jesus even took a toll on his physical body. After all He did fall asleep on the boat in the middle of a storm that scared the disciples out of their wits! But, Jesus did understand the importance of taking time to get away. It was these times of solitude and quiet that helped him keep going, doing good, and perhaps even be renewed in his vision of how His Kingdom work was going. Definitely after his times of retreat miracles always happened.

Since the “wake up to God’s view” conversation with my friend I have spent more time in retreat mode, specifically asking my Father to help me see the harvest, whether big or small. It has been amazing how differently I have seen things. Where I used to see only flat, parched earth I am now seeing mounds, which means something is happening underneath. I can’t see the growth yet, but my retreats are giving me just enough energy to keep watering, keep hoping, keep praying and not giving up. At the proper time the evidence of a future harvest will appear.

Jesus, if I cannot be a part of harvesting,
Please help me to at least see some growth!
Amen.

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